Track-cleaner or current-collector



W. M. ROBERTS., Jr." TRACK CLEANER'CR CURRENT COLLECTOR.

(No Model.)

Paented Oct. 27 F1a-- NiTnD STATES PATENT Prien..

TILLIAM' M ROBERTS, JR., OF CUMBERLAND, MARYLAND.

TRACK-CLEANER oR ouRRl-:NT-coI LECTOR.V

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,339, dated October 27', 18916.

l i Application filed January 27, 1896. SerialNo. 577,073. (No model.)

tures herein described and claimed.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which the same parts are indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.

Figure l represents an end view of a por tion of the truck of a street-car, showing the track-cleaning brush in the operative-position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the brush on the opposite side of the car raised out of engagement with the track. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the brush, and showing the holding-sleeve in section. Fig. a represents a section along the line el a of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a section along the line 5 5 ofFig. l and looking down.

A represents the wheel-guard, to which the brush-holding attachments are secured, but these attachments may be supported by any part of the truck or the framework thereof, or connected to the bottom of the car in any convenient way.

B represents one of the wheels, and C one of the track-rails.

D represents the brush, which is secured in the metal plate D', having a sleeve d, internally screw-threaded, as shown in Fig. 4c. This brush and plate and sleeve are of the ordinary manufacture and are not separately claimed as part of my invention. Screwed into this sleeve cl is a short pipe or casing E, preferably gas-pipe, screw-threaded, as at e, and provided with vertical slots e on opposite sides thereof, terminating in horizontal-slots e2, having downwardly-projecting holdinglips e3, showing a construction similar to that commonly known as a bayonet-joint. Extending through these slots e is a pin F,which is normally pressed upward by a spring G, interposed under pressure between the pin F and the plate D', as shown in Fig. 4t. This p'in F may be secured to any fixed part of the framework of the car immediately over the traclerails, but is preferably secured in the sleeve H, inclosing the pipe E, in which said. pipe E is free to move vertically. This sleeve H is preferably provided with a screwcap H' to4 keep out snow, dirt, and Vother matter likely to affect the operation of the parts inclosed in the casing E and in the sleeve H. It will be obvious that a single slot or groove on one side only of the casing may be used instead of two slots, and that the pin F may only project part of the way into the casing.

The sleeve H is adjustably held in a bracket K, secured either to the wheel-guard A or to any other suitable part of the car. This bracket K is provided with a sleeve 71:, adapted to receive the sleeve H, which is clamped therein by the clamp-screw 7J). This bracket is secured in place by means of bolts 7s or in any other convenient way.

The brush is shown in the operative position in Figs. 1 and 3, in which the spring G presses the brush down to the limit of its downward travel, the said brush being then held against further downward travel by the pin F, while the spring G keeps the brush pressed downward iirmly on the track. When it is desired to remove the brush from contact with the track for any reason, pull up onv the brush until the pin F is below the holding-lip e3, and then by giving a partial revolution to the brush, preferably about ninety degrees, the pin F will pass into the horizontal slot e2, and when' the brush is released it will be pressed downward and the pin F will be locked in the curved recess behind the holding-lip e3, and thus in a simple4 and expeditious manner the brush may be `thrown out of engagement. To throw the brush back in an engagement with the track, lift up on the brush sufficient to clear the holdin glip e3, turn the brush through the reverse angle, and let go of it, and the spring G will press it down on the track.

The spring G will enable the casing E to rise and fall in the guide-sleeve H, and thus the brush D will accommodate itself to irregularities in small obstructions on the track.

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As these brushes wear out on the ends the clamp-screw 760 should be unscrewed and the sleeve II lowered a sufficient distance and clamped again in position. In this way,with the herein-described device, a brush may be continuously used until it is worn out and the brush may be at all times readily adj usted for wear.

It will be seen that the operating-spring is held in and protected by the casing, and there is a compact arrangement of parts that may readily be assembled and as readily separated, and that the parts liable to injury or clogging up are well protected.

The herein-described device may also be used for holding sliding contacts for making electrical connection and for kindred purposes.

It will be obvious that various modilications of the herein-described apparatus might be made which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

' Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a track-cleaner orcurrent-collector, the combination with a brush and a hollow casing secured to the back thereof, and provided with a longitudinal slot eXtendin g along one side of said casin g and a lateral slot connected therewith, of a pin fastened to the car and projecting` into said slot, a spring held under pressure between said pin and the back of said brush, and a guide for said casing adapted to permit the vertical movement thereof, substantially as described.

2. In a track-cleaner or current-collector, the combination with a brush and hollow casing secured to the back thereof and provided with a longitudinal slot extending along one side of said casin g and a lateral slot connected therewith, of a pin fastened to the car and projecting into said slot, a spring inclosed in said casing and held between said brush and said pin, and a guide for said hollow casing adapted to permit the motion thereof in a vertical direction, substantially as described.

In a track-cleaner or current-collector, the combination with a brush and a hollow casing secured to the back thereof, and provided with a longitudinal slot extending along one side of said casing and a lateral slot connected therewith, of a sleeve inclosing said casing, and permitting a vertical play of said casing therein, a pin fastened to the sleeve and projecting into said slot, and a spring held under pressure between said pin and the back of said brush, substantially as described.

i. In atrack-cleaner, the combination with a brush and a hollow casing secured to the back thereof, and provided with a longitudinal slot extending along one side of said easing and a lateral slot connected therewith,

of a sleeve inclosing said casing, and permitting a vertical play of said casing therein, means for adjusting the position of said sleeve relative to the track, a pin fastened to the sleeve and projecting into said slot, and a spring held under pressure between said pin and the back of said brush, substantially as described.

5. In a track-cleaner, the combination with a brush and a hollow casing secured to the back thereof, and provided with a longitudinal slot extending along one side of said Casin g and a lateral slot connected therewith, of asleeve inclosing said casing, and permitting a vertical play of said casing therein, a bracket adapted to hold said sleeve; means for adjustably securing said sleeve in said bracket, a pin fastened to the sleeve and projecting into said slot, and a spring held under pressure between said pin and the back of said brush, substantially as described.

6. In a track-cleaner, the combination with a brush and a hollow casing secured to the back thereof, and provided with oppositelydisposed longitudinal slots extending along opposite sides of said casing and lateral slots connected with said longitudinal slots, of a pin fastened to the car and projecting through said casing and into said slots, a spring held under pressure between said pin and said.

brush, and a guide for said easing adapted to permit the Vertical movement thereof, substantially as described.

7. In a track-cleaner, the combination with a brush and hollow casing secured to the back thereof and provided with oppositelydisposed longitudinal slots extending along opposite sides of said casing and lateral slots connected with said longitudinal slots, of a pin fastened tothe car and projecting through said casing and into said slots, a spring inclosed in said casing and held between said brush and said pin, and a guide for said hollow easing adapted to permit said casing to move in a vertical direction, substantially as described.

8. In a track-cleaner, the combination with a brush and a hollow cylindrical casing secured to the back thereof, and provided with longitudinal slots extending along the opposite sides of said casing and lateral slots connected' with said longitudinal slots, of a sleeve inelosing said casing, and permitting a vertical play of said casing therein, a pin fastened to the sleeve and projecting through said casing and into said slots, and a spring held under pressure between said pin and said brush, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IVILLIAM M. ROBERTS, JR. fitnessesz F. M.` OFFUTT, J. W. HUMB-iRD.

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